Wiktionary

audacity

English

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Etymology

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From late Middle English audacite, from Medieval Latin audacitas, from Latin audax (“bold”), from audeō (“I am bold, I dare”).

Pronunciation

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Noun

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audacity (countable and uncountable, plural audacities)

  1. Insolent boldness, especially when imprudent or unconventional.
    Synonyms: audaciousness, chutzpah, outdaciousness, temerity
    The brash private had the audacity to criticize the general.
    Somebody never pays his loans, yet he has the audacity to ask the bank for money.
    • 1960, P[elham] G[renville] Wodehouse, chapter XVIII, in Jeeves in the Offing, London: Herbert Jenkins, →OCLC:
      “Oh?” she said. “So you have decided to revise my guest list for me? You have the nerve, the – the –” I saw she needed helping out. “Audacity,” I said, throwing her the line. “The audacity to dictate to me who I shall have in my house.” It should have been “whom”, but I let it go. “You have the –” “Crust.” “– the immortal rind,” she amended, and I had to admit it was stronger, “to tell me whom” – she got it right that time – “I may entertain at Brinkley Court and who” – wrong again – “I may not.”
  2. Fearlessness, intrepidity or daring, especially with confident disregard for personal safety, conventional thought, or other restrictions.

Derived terms

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Translations

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Further reading

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